Sitting outside a restaurant near his flat so he can have a smoke, Jake — dressed head to toe in black despite the sun — adds: “I guess I’m not your average 22-year-old, as I’ve been lucky enough to see different places and travel the world and meet new people.

“But I’ve always hung around with people older than me — even when I was younger, back on my estate with my mates. I think you learn from older people, as they tell you their mistakes.”

In the past Jake has been criticised for using co-writers such as Snow Patrol collaborator Iain Archer, former Longpigs singer Crispin Hunt and singer-songwriter Brendan Benson, also of Jack White’s band The Raconteurs.

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Not immune to criticism ... Jake was slammed for collaborating with writers from the likes of Snow PatrolCredit: Tom Oxley

After hearing he had used co-writers, Noel Gallagher — who Jake has toured with — said: “I was heartbroken in a way, f***ing heartbroken.”

While Jake worked alone for most of his third album, three of the tracks were produced by U2 and Snow Patrol producer Garret “Jacknife” Lee.

Jake says: “He was good. He challenged me, which is great because I didn’t use any writers to bounce ideas off this time.